Car service and MOT

[DontWatchThat]

Can I just check im not going mad?!

Bloody old rust bucket in for its service. Got a phone call saying there are loads of things that need doing 'red' alerts

Bear in mind last year I spent about a grand on the thing with brakes etc.

I asked what all these things are. They said as the car is now 9 years old there are lots of things the manufacturer says need doing. It's a low mileage. About 45k. So we've not hit the milestones for changing them mileage wise.

I asked why they weren't mentioned last year. Or the year before. Or even at the six year check. He doesn't know.

I asked if they're all physically okay - brake fluid, valve clearance, spark plugs etc. And he said yes it's just how old they are.

Am I going mad?! Is this just insane? I want to Replace the car soon anyway so spending nearly two grand in two years seems excessive.

Any help appreciated...

You dad is talking rubbish. For an old car, dealership service is not required. You need a very trustworthy local mechanic that does all the bits you need for £300 at a time, for eg.

@Shade17

It's the main dealership.

Why on earth are you taking a 9 year car to a main dealer? That’s half your problem!

This.

If you don't know a decent local garage, get on Nextdoor and ask.

Someone did that on my Nextdoor and all the replies bar 1 named the same garage. I've been going there for nearly 20 years and drive a well cared for old banger.

There's a thread on it today someone needing a recommendation for an independent BMW garage, and the responses are pretty much unanimous. I only replied to point out that topping up the oil with castrol was not an oil service.

Find a local independent. I've had one for ten years now and I take their word as gospel. When my 9 year old Corsa had a service and MOT they suggested I replace it and trade it in over the next twelve months as things would start to go, or need to be replaced. Traded it in for £1500 to a 2 year old Focus.

Do you mind saying where you are based? Someone may be able to recommend an indie close to you. Mine is the Salford/Trafford Park area if you need details.

What car is it? Every fucking time on these threads ! No one can tell you anything unless you say the model of car.

My car is 21 years old, pretty low mileage. I’ve always fixed only when things are broken, or when is sensible. My biggest advice is to never ever go to a main dealer and find a local expert (use fb to find out) who is trustworthy.
I’d have spent a crazy amount over the years otherwise. Realistically it’s mine until it’s scrap so I don’t care about sales, and it doesn’t make much difference after the first 5 or so years anyway.
It’s roadworthy, that is my only criteria for caring about work on it.

Also, my cars 20, 75k and has lots of original bits I’ve never changed. Only wheels, brake pads, the odd vacuum hose or join really. Even the original fuses in their entirety

It would be interesting to know what make car it is, and how much the dealership is charging for MoT and Service.

If you have an MOT, there may well be things listed as advisory, and these are probably what the garage has mentioned.

A 9-yr old car will have things that need doing even if the mileage hasn't reached the average mileage of a car that age. Timing belt change, that sort of thing.

It will probably be in the handbook.

I'm being punished for saying no to everything by keeping me waiting to pick the car up while everyone busies themselves ignoring me...!

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

First car. So all advice is welcome.

And to be fair to my dad he taught me to check oil, tyres etc. So he's not all bad.

It's a Honda jazz. Bless it. I've never had any problems with it (apart from when my ex left the lights on and wondered why the battery went flat...)

It was over a grand last year (big service apparently). This year they were proposing with the service, mot and 'urgent' stuff would be another grand... I'm going to get rid of it soon. I only do school runs etc.

The service schedule will be in the handbook, and if that's missing it will be online. The dealership should have a record of what's been done at each service, ask for a print out of the car history. Remember the MOT and service are two different things. The MOT bits are essential or will be shortly, and the service items more optional but based on the schedule. A failed timing belt or water pump can knacker the engine so worth doing on schedule. Use that to figure out if the dealership are having you on. Forewarned is forearmed as they say. And yeah, at this point your dad is wrong, no benefit to dealership servicing if you can get generic parts and cheaper labour elsewhere.

Urgent my eye. If I was to rack my brains trying to think of a small, economical and reliable to the point of being able to carry on through an extinction event I'd say Honda Jazz, especially if it's petrol.

I would love to know the urgent things - really!

AS an aside, I've heard things said such as "you need to change your brake pads, they're 60% worn".

I can get a set of pads to last 80,000 miles so on this basis I'm throwing away parts that woudl still be good for 32k miles. I daresay that may be badged as "urgent"

@DontWatchThat, don't get rid of the car.

You have looked after it and you'll get naff all for it.

Find yourself a decent independent local garage. Start looking now by asking around. They won't necessarily be the cheapest but they won't try to scare you.

You can always give them a ring or pop round and have a chat.

Your dad isn't completely wrong, but a dealership will probably be £££ for labour.

You might get another 12 years out of your car, it's done all the depreciation, so won't cost you much.

If you look at honestjohn web site he LOVES Honda Jazz

If the dealership made you wait as you said they do not deserve your custom.

@teass

If its like my car (and other cars I've had) unfortunately there are things that manufacturers advise doing at the 100,000 mile mark or if you dont do so many miles at the 9-10 year mark. This is just super cautious regular maintenance - a stitch in time saves nine type thing but it can be a bit excessive.

At 10 years things like cam belt, spark plus, exhaust pipe, tyres etc will probably need replacing almost regardless of mileage . You will more than likely be fine not replacing them but the manufacturers rely on people fearing that they will suddenly go.

Its only certain components such as the cam belt that are actually crucial - if it goes it will probably destroy the engine costing several thousand to replace. Others such as brakes, exhaust etc will be obvious if they need replacing as you will be able to hear the noise/ feel the brakes not working. If you have had it regularly serviced there shouldnt be any problems.

As long as your car passes its MOT you dont need to do anything but bear in mind as others have said that if you are planning on selling a new buyer will want to be sure that the cam belt has been replaced or will want a discount in anticipation of this known cost.

In my experience its best to take cars once they're out of the warranty to independent places or even places like Formula One autocentres/ National Tyres/Kwik Fit etc as they have a much more pragmatic approach to replacing things not being reliant on the manufacturer's schedules.

I've driven cars for over 40 years and would never, ever let F1, NT or Kwik Fit anywhere near them no matter whether they were newish or getting on a bit. Next you'll be recommending Halfords! These chains have reputations for trying to sell unnecessary repairs. Just go on any car forum and see if they suggest/recommend using any of these!

As said upthread a good independent garage, hopefully personally recommended, is worth their weight in gold. Many of them employ manufacturer-trained mechanics.

And any garage can keep your warranty intact by using manufacturers parts and complying with the manufacturers service requirements. (I think they need to be VAT-registered as well)You do not have to use the
-main stealership-, sorry, dealership. On my present car a dealership service is nearly £400. For the exact same standard of service at my usual garage it's £265. I get nothing extra by going to the dealership except poorer.

And on every car I've sold on the buyers have been more than happy with the full service history.

I’d google the car and what needs done for services at what mileage and see if the infos online.

If not google main dealers and pick one out of town and phone them. Ask them. Don’t tell them your registration number just ask if they can email you what all needs done and at what intervals on a 9 year old jazz or whatever it is.

Then you’ll know a) if your own mob are telling porkies and b) what all to tell your local independent dealer you’d like done.

In my experience its best to take cars once they're out of the warranty to independent places or even places like Formula One autocentres/ National Tyres/Kwik Fit etc as they have a much more pragmatic approach to replacing things not being reliant on the manufacturer's schedules.

Absolutely not. I once had new tyres in one of those 3 places and they said the brakes were worn down to the calipers and that the car was not safe to drive.

Probably because they thought that I was a young dumb blonde.

main dealership.

'Fraid this is one way they make money. I had my car under a deal that included the first x years servicing. The day that agreement was over, they came up with a list a mile long of things , including replacing the headlight remote adjusting system which required a lot of replacing very complicated wiring out

I took it my local garage, who used an Allen key to adjust the headlight and said they wouldn't charge me for that. No complicated rewire necessary.

Find an independent who will provide a much better deal for you.